Sensor with mount

ABSTRACT

An assembly includes a mount ( 10 ) and a sensor ( 30 ), in particular a rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle, the mount ( 10 ) including at least two abutments ( 12 ) for a clamping bracket ( 50 ), wherein at least one clamping bracket ( 50 ) is hinge-fitted to the sensor ( 30 ) at two bearing points, the clamping bracket ( 50 ) being adapted to swivel between a mounting position and a clamping position, in which it urges the sensor ( 30 ) against the mount ( 10 ) with a pretensioning force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an assembly including a mount and asensor, in particular a rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of assemblies comprised of a mount and a sensor of this typeare known. The essential function of this assembly consists in enablingthe sensor to be fastened to the mount and thus to the windshield of amotor vehicle so as to permit a simple and reliable attachment, on theone hand, and an exchange of the sensor, if required, on the other hand.Specifically, the assembly must en-sure that the sensor is fastened inthe mount with a certain pretension.

The object of the present invention is to provide such an assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, an assembly includes a mount and a sensor,in particular a rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle, the mountincluding at least two abutments for a clamping bracket, wherein atleast one clamping bracket is hinge-fitted to the sensor at two bearingpoints, the clamping bracket being adapted to swivel between a mountingposition and a clamping position, in which it urges the sensor againstthe mount with a pretensioning force. Particularly the clamping bracketmakes it possible to fit the sensor in the mount in a pretensionedcondition with little expenditure involved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another exploded view of this assembly;

FIG. 3 shows the assembly of FIG. 2, with the sensor placed in themount;

FIG. 4 shows the assembly of FIG. 3 in a pre-locked position in thecondition at the time of delivery;

FIG. 5 shows the assembly of FIG. 4 in a locked condition during finalassembly for pre-fixing;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the assembly in the finally assembledcondition;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the assembled assembly;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the assembled assembly;

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an assembly according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 shows the assembly of FIG. 9 with preassembled clampingbrackets;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the assembly of FIG. 9 in the pre-lockedcondition;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a top view of the assembly of FIG. 9 in the assembledcondition;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the assembled assembly; and

FIG. 15 shows a side view of the assembled assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an assembly according to a first embodiment whichcontains as its essential components a mount 10, a sensor 30, and aclamping bracket 50.

The mount 10 is a substantially ring-shaped frame which has a centralreceiving space for the sensor 30. The mount 10 has two abutment faces12 for engagement by the clamping bracket 50.

The sensor 30 is a rain/light sensor which includes a plug connection 32on one side and a moisture/temperature sensor 34 on the other side. Theactual rain/light sensor is mounted in the center of the sensor body.Provided on two oppositely located sides of the sensor 30 are clampingfaces 36 which are formed on laterally protruding clamping projections.

The clamping bracket 50 is in the form of a wire bracket here and hastwo eccentrics 52 at its ends, the eccentrics protruding over a bearingjournal 54.

For assembly purposes, the sensor 30 is inserted into the mount 10,which is usually already fitted to a windshield of a motor vehicle; theplug connection 32 and the moisture/temperature sensor 34 ensuringtogether with corresponding recesses in the mount 10 that the sensor 30can only be inserted in one single correct orientation (see FIG. 3).

In the as-delivered condition the clamping bracket 50 is pre-locked atthe sensor 30 (see FIG. 4) and is shifted during assembly into acorrectly locked position (see FIG. 5), in which the bearing journals 54with the eccentrics 52 of the clamping bracket are positioned betweenthe clamping faces 36 and the abutment faces 12. The clamping bracket isthen swiveled through 90 degrees so that a pretension of 30 N is appliedon each bearing point through the eccentric, the pretension being usedto press the sensor 30 into the mount 10. In the clamping position, i.e.swiveled through 90 degrees (see FIG. 6), the clamping bracket 50 locksinto place behind two locking projections 16 on the mount 10. In thelocked condition, a part of the clamping bracket 50 which acts as acontact pressure section 56 lies in a depression in the area of themoisture/temperature sensor 34 to also press the sensor 30 towards themount 10 in this area.

FIG. 9 shows a mount according to a second embodiment. The differencefrom the first embodiment consists in that not only one single clampingbracket 50 is used, but two clamping brackets, and in that the clampingbrackets 50 do not have eccentrics provided thereon for applying theclamping force, but clamping projections 60 which are arranged beyondthe bearing journal of the clamping bracket 50.

FIG. 10 shows the preassembled condition, in which the two clampingbrackets 50 are in the mounting position. The sensor 30, along with thetwo clamping brackets 50, is inserted into the mount 10 (see FIGS. 11and 12), in which it is pre-locked by means of a clipping point. Thenthe two clamping brackets 50 are each moved outward through 90 degreesinto the clamping position, in which the clamping projections 60 engagethe abutment faces 12 of the mount 10 and thereby press the sensor 30against the mount 10 with a pretensioning force of 15 N per bearingpoint. In the clamping position the clamping brackets 50 snap into placebehind locking projections 16 of the mount 10. The clamping projections60 engaging the abutment faces 12 can be clearly seen in FIG. 15.

1. An assembly comprising a mount (10) and a sensor (30), in particulara rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle, the mount (10) including atleast two abutments (12) for a clamping bracket (50), wherein at leastone clamping bracket (50) is hinge-fitted to the sensor (30) at twobearing points, the clamping bracket (50) being adapted to swivelbetween a mounting position and a clamping position, in which it urgesthe sensor (30) against the mount (10) with a pretensioning force. 2.The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clamping bracket (50) hasends that each include an eccentric (52).
 3. The assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the clamping bracket (50) has ends that each include aclamping projection (60).
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe mount (10) is provided with at least one locking projection (16)behind which the clamping bracket (50) snaps into place in the clampingposition.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clampingbracket (50) is provided with a contact pressure section between its twoends, the contact pressure section being supported by the sensor (30)when the clamping bracket (50) is in the clamping position.
 6. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein two bearing points are providedopposite each other.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein fourbearing points are provided which are arranged opposite each other inpairs.